The 2014 fantasy football season offered more sleepers on the waiver wire than any in recent memory. Several sleepers saved seasons and won championships, giving owners the answers they were looking for. It is time to celebrate those waiver wire heroes.

Many of the so called fantasy football experts got most of it wrong missing out on guys like Justin Forsett and over valuing players like Doug Martin. Fortunately savvy wire players were able to rectify draft missteps for little to no cost at all. Even a bad draft could have been saved on the wire this season.

Playing the fantasy football waiver wire is a tricky game. It requires patience, foresight, and the ability to look at a player’s situation objectively. Remember, any starting quarterback or running back can look like a monster for one week in the right situation. Having the ability to see through that and find that diamond in the ruff that will shine for an entire season is a talent all in itself.

The fantasy season is over and it is time to start analyzing studs and duds. I went back and looked at all of the guys that fell through the draft and onto the waiver wire and the amount of talent available on the wire this season was stunning. If you picked up any of these players, the chances are good you were either in the playoffs a serious contender. While leagues vary in size of 6-16, I based this roster on a 10 team league standard. Without further a due I give you the 2014 All Waiver Wire Fantasy Football Team.

I used the preseason ADP from the collective rankings of experts over at FantasyPros.com. I felt that these preseason rankings offered the best perspective of expert analysis across the board.

Quarterback

Eli Manning, New York Giants – Coming off one of the worst seasons of his career, no fantasy player trusted Eli with a draft pick and guess what? Watching Eli play on Week 1 would have led you to believe that everyone was correct in their analysis although he did put up double digits. However, Eli’s slump only lasted one week because he came back in Week 2 and put up 19 points in standard scoring leagues. Only once all season did Eli not produce double digits and during the fantasy playoffs the guy was absolute money! A little receiver out of LSU named Odell Beckham Jr. certainly helped, but it was more than just one guy that helped Eli finish in the top ten this season among fantasy QBs.

Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins – Tannehll got little respect coming into the season which was ridiculous in hindsight. Tannehll finished in the top 15 last season and looked great down the stretch. Ranked 18th in coming into the season, Tannehll finished as the 10th overall QB in fantasy, a five spot improvement. Tannehill scored a TD in every game this season but one and had six TDs during the fantasy playoffs. As long as the Dolphins keep the coaching staff in place I predict that Tannehill will finish between 5-8 next season among fantasy QBs.

Running Backs

Justin Forsett, Baltimore Ravens – Nobody and I mean nobody saw this one coming. A journeyman backup, Forsett seized a golden opportunity in Baltimore behind a pretty darn good rushing line. Forsett was on nobody’s radar in the preseason with Ray Rice expected back. Even after Rice was gone for good, most predicted that Bernard Pierce or Lorenzo Taliaferro would be the man. Instead, Forsett took ownership of the running game and finished eighth overall among fantasy RBs. Unfortunately Forsett ran out of gas during the fantasy playoffs, leaving a bad taste in a lot of owners’ mouths yet you can’t disregard what he did through the entire season to get them there.

CJ Anderson, Denver Broncos – It is scary to think what Anderson could have done if he got the starting job in week 1. Anderson put up ridiculous numbers after taking over the starting spot and benefitted from an offense that shifted more emphasis on its running game. Anderson put up a whopping 56 points in the last three weeks of the season and went on a tear in the finale for 28 points in standard leagues. If Denver comes back next year with this same offense and Anderson in place as the starter, he could break records in 2015. Even scarier is that you could have gotten this guy for nothing off of the waiver wire.

Wide Receiver

Odell Beckham, Jr., New York Giants – Pundits are making some big comparisons to ODB and while most of the time I’d dismiss it as hype, it is hard to argue with them. He had the best rookie season for a wide receiver since Randy Moss and he didn’t even play all sixteen games! He broke records for fantasy points through his first 12 games for a wide receiver. Like Anderson, imagine if he played a full season! Since Week 5, ODB went on a tear giving owners only one subpar week in week 6 against the Eagles. The guy went on a historic tear for a Giants rookie WR in the fantasy playoffs, putting up 19, 32, 26, and 24 points in the last four weeks. Some are predicting that ODB could be a top five draft pick next year. I would be a little worried about Victor Cruz taking away some of those numbers, although I think ODB is the real deal and probably crowned some new champions in 2014.

Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – I was lucky enough to grab this guy on waivers which was a feat in itself since I had the best record in the league to that point. In other words, everyone in my league and others passed on this guy allowing him to fall to me. Evans was ranked 40th coming into the season and finished 11th overall among fantasy WRs in standard scoring. He finished ahead of Calvin Johnson, Alshon Jeffery, Desean Jackson, AJ Green, and Kelvin Benjamin. What impressed me most about Evans is that he was quarterback-proof. Whether it was Glennon or McCown, he scored TDs. I can’t even begin to imagine the kinds of numbers he will put up with a good to great QB. He slumped a bit in the playoffs, although he did deliver 4 TDs through the last four weeks of the season. Not bad for a guy you got for nothing off of the wire.

Tight End

Coby Fleener, Indianapolis Colts – Fleener became an instant fantasy star when Dwayne Allen went down and Andrew Luck started connecting with his old college teammate. Even with Allen in the fold, Fleener had a pretty consistent season and finished sixth among fantasy TEs. His two-TD game in the final week of the season made him a waiver wire steal for owners lucky enough to cash in on a fantasy championship.

Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs – Kelce was a hot sleeper coming into the season yet he was ranked 17th in the preseason. As a longtime, suffering Eagles fan I don’t trust Andy Reid enough to draft one of his TEs but those that did were rewarded handsomely. He wasn’t consistent but for a TE, you couldn’t ask for much more…especially where you got him. He finished in the top 10 among fantasy TEs and could be a real fantasy beast next season if Reid and Doug Pederson utilize him more in the offense.

Defense

Buffalo Bills – Give Jim Schwartz a head coaching job now! What he did with that Buffalo defense was simply remarkable. This was a unit ranked fifteenth coming into the season that finished second overall…above the Seahawks, Niners, and Texans. The Bills had a few clunkers but they offered you consistency throughout the season if you were bold enough to take a shot on them. They were the only defense to average double digit points a game besides the Eagles defense/special teams all season.

It is finally here for some of you, your fantasy football championship week. Many months and endless hours of draft preparation have brought you to this point. Unfortunately with big games comes big pressure, and the wrong decision can result in an early exit and an offseason of depression.

Don’t over-analyze - There is a reason you have gotten this far in the fantasy football playoffs. Stick with what got you here. The most common mistake for first-time championship players is to over-think your game. For example, you own Marshawn Lynch and the Seattle Seahawks are playing the Arizona Cardinals top rush defense this week. You start Foster no matter what. Especially this season as no defense has been consistent for fifteen games.

The worst words you want to hear before you play your running back are Baltimore Ravens. Yes, the Ravens have shutdown the run for most of the season and are first against the run in fantasy football. Yes the Ravem have given up only 5 rushing TDs all season. However, are you really going to shut down an Arian Foster in your championship week for someone off the waiver wire? Are you going to sit down Peyton Manning just because he is playing the Cincinnati Bengals? Now if you are sitting there with comparable backups on your bench you may and I stress may want to consider it. However, the moral here is not to panic. Stick with the money guys who brought you to the dance, especially if you don’t have any suitable backups on your bench. Strange things can happen, just ask anyone who played against Cam Newton two weeks ago.

Skip the waiver wire - There is no reason you should even think of playing the waiver wire game. Yes Joseph Randall is tempting, but can you really trust a guy off the wire who will be splitting time at this point? I look at it this way when it comes to playing guys in fantasy football at this point in the season. It comes down to, who do you trust? If there is a gem flying around your waiver wire, I’d grab him only to keep him away from your opponent. But I’d have a hard time resting my championship hopes on someone that has been hanging around for most of the year on the wire.

Go with a running back in your flex position - I have always had a rule which has cost me on some weeks, but has won me more games in the long haul. My rule of thumb is always start a running back in the flex position over a wide receiver. I don’t care if you have three great receivers. One of them has to sit for the running back. Remember what time of year we are in. It is the winter time, and this is the time of the year where most teams will be running over passing in outdoor weather.

Of course this is subject to change if you have no true starting running back to start in the flex while you have a great receiver sitting on your bench. At the same time, you know a running back is going to get his carries. Whether he scores or not, he is going to get double digit carries depending upon the offense. The wide receiver you want to play could be easily shut out. I’d rather take 7 points from a bad running back than 0 from a wide receiver.

Beware of fuzzy fantasy football statistics - This is something that could get you into big trouble if you don’t do your homework. There are a lot of writers and websites that give you fantasy stats such as average points a team gives up to tight ends, quarterbacks, etc. Read the stats closely.

Most of these websites are giving you seasonal stats. My rule of thumb is to look at a team’s last four-five games. For example, the Carolina Panthers and the Giants are ranked as two of the best bets for running backs by most fantasy sites. Those same “experts” will yell and scream to play your running backs against the Panthers and Giants. What they don’t tell you is that over the last four games, neither the Giants nor Panthers have given up one touchdowns to opposing running backs. Furthermore, the Giants have not given up more than 65 yards to running backs in their last three games while the Panthers have only allowed one team to rush for over 100 in their last four. A lot of those fantasy football sites use seasonal stats and while the Panthers may have been shredded a few times, they aren’t the “give me” that most fantasy experts would lead you to believe they are. The same can be said for the Rams, who have greatly improved their defense over the last few weeks. The opposite could be said about the Buffalo Bills who while ranked 8th against RBs have given up four TDs in their last two games. These fantasy websites can be a great guide, but do your own homework. Remember this is the championship game and chances are your opponent is up to his neck in stats. Be prepared and you’ll be fine.

Go with your gut - This goes for the playoffs and regular season. I have been there. Your gut is telling you one thing but all of the “experts” or bloggers are telling you another. At the end of the day this is purely a guessing game for all of us. Nothing is ever a sure thing. Strange things happen in December whether it is weather, injuries, or coaches on the hot seat, or just flukes. Your gut is what got you to the championship game in the first place. It is okay to accumulate as much information as possible and use that towards making your decision. I just wouldn’t make a decision purely based off of something you hear or read that completely goes against your instincts. The only one who has accountability this week is you. Remember that.

So there they are, a few dos and don’ts for fantasy football championship players. Hopefully you followed some of my advice this season and had some luck in your league (and better luck than I had in some of my others). Good luck in your championship, and welcome to the big dance.

For the second week in a row I have woken up Tuesday morning a loser by one point. By now I should be hitting my midseason stride instead of wondering whether or not I need to replace Vincent Jackson. I hope your weekend was better than mine. In the event that your weekend sucked as well, here are some options that might improve you position.

Quarterback:

Michael Vick, New York Jets – Hear me out. As a forgiving Falcons fan I am always excited to see Vick get a chance to succeed. Looks like the man who got a 2nd chance in Philly is getting a 3rd chance in NY. Yes, he turns the ball over and he isn’t going to stay healthy. However he does have Harvin, a receiver who should have a better grasp of the offense, he has a chip on his shoulder and wants to prove he can still start at this level and he did average over 10 yards per carry on Sunday. When facing the options of Austin, Hoyer, or Bortles maybe Vick gets another chance with you as well.

Kyle Orton, Buffalo Bills- We get a few of these guys on here every week. Why is he still available at all? Over the last 4 weeks (which is how long he has started) he is ranked 12th overall. However outside of Brady, Manning, and Luck he has been the most consistent. A few of those “top” guys had a few high individual games while Orton has been on cruise control. Here are his averages through his first 4 games. 282 yards, 2.3 touchdowns, .75 interceptions, .50 fumbles. That add up to an average of 17.5 points per game. Going by those numbers he is more accurately ranked around 6th. 1.7% owned? Yes, I know that he is going into the bye week but if you are going to need a back-up or even a starter the rest of the way, he needs to be on your team.

Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals – Another guy who has me scratching my head wondering what is wrong with the world. Since coming back Palmer has averaged more than 18 fantasy point per game. He is leading one of the best teams in the NFL with a number of dangerous weapons. Carson Palmer should be in someone starting line-up. Maybe you are still waiting for Newton to take off or you think the Ryan is still going to blow up. Time to be realistic guys, bench the underachievers and get Palmer into the game. You won’t be sorry.

As you see this week, the QB position is deeper than ever before. Here we are at week #8 and we are still seeing QB’s on the waiver wire that could be starting in any league. If you are hurting for a QB don’t worry. As you can see there are plenty to choose from. This list is far from comprehensive as I am only making the case for the ones I think will have the biggest impact. Hoyer, Bridgewater, and Smith all have some value.

Running back:

Each week the running back wore also has me scratching my head because the pool for reliable starters is so shallow yet really good RB’s are still just sitting there. So if week in and week out this section feels like a scene out of Groundhogs Day it’s because the same names are still available. I find it hard to believe that most teams couldn’t use Ronnie Hillman.

Ronnie Hillman, Denver Broncos- Speak of the devil because there has to be some voodoo out there as Hillman is still available in almost 70% of all leagues. So let’s do the same song and dance one more time and see if people finally get it. If you take the averages from the 4 games that Hillman has started he is tied for 2nd in carries behind only Demarco Murray and he is 3rd in yards behind Murray and Foster. Basically what I am saying is that as long as he has been starting Hillman is a legit RB1. If those stats don’t do it for you take a second and look at his teammates. Peyton Manning is ranked 2nd overall for QB, Thomas and Sanders are both top 10 WR’s, and Julius Thomas is the 3rd ranked TE. He plays for an offensive juggernaut, defenses can’t stack the box because they have to cover the receivers. They are always going to be in the red zone and they are always going to score points. This guy is a sure thing!

Denard Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars- If Hillman is taken, Robinson is the next best thing. Through 2 games you get similar stats to Hillman but you are dealing with a Jacksonville team that isn’t very good offensively. Bad team or not if you need a RB to fill a slot and you are looking for consistency, this is where you go. Could be a good week as the Bengals have given up the 3rd most TD’s and the 8th most rushing yards this season.

Jonus Gray, New England Patriots- Who? You would think that the same logic that applies to the Broncos RB concerning a high powered offense would also apply to the Pats. However, it almost works in the opposite since there are no guarantees in NE. If you believe the reports, Gray has taken over the main RB duties that usually went to Ridley who is out for the season. All of the same rules apply, blah blah blah good offense creates red zone opportunities. He is most likely going to be hit or miss but if you are hurting for back its better than nothing.

Wide Receivers:

If you are not playing in a PPR league this has to be the most frustrating part of your week. Who is going to find the end zone? It’s really just a guessing game at this point, so put on your blind fold, grab dart and let’s see where it lands.

Brandon Lafell, New England Patriots- I am starting with Lafell simply because Brady is back to being Brady and he just doesn’t have many options. With 11 receptions on 11 targets he has shown he can be relied upon to carry an offense. They are going to need him this week if they are going to keep up with the high scoring Broncos. 11 catches for 124 yards and touchdown should catch you eye. If you believe in Brady you should pick up Lafell.

Andrew Hawkins, Cleveland Browns- I feel like I am repeating myself over and over again. Please pick this guy up this week, even if it’s for one week. He has scored double digits the last couple of weeks and they are going up against Tampa Bay. That should be enough to get him to your flex. Until Brown comes back in a few weeks Hawkins is the clear #1 option for this Browns team. He has almost twice as many targets as his runner up. If the running game gets on track this week, Hawkins will have another big game.

Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers- Adams is slowly becoming a regular target for Aaron Rodgers. Nelson, Cobb, and Boykins are still around but that didn’t stop Adams from leading the team in targets. Good players on good teams are always worth looking into. Adams will need to find the end zone to be a serious impact but he is a good choice for a quick fill-in and maybe more if something were to happen to any of the Packers top 3 receiving threats.

Allen Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars- He is basically a more consistent Hawkins, in fact I may have grouped them together in a previous blog. Everyone is waiting for Shorts to be the man but Robinson keeps making a case for himself. Averaging almost 5 catches and 60 yards per game, there is some real constancy here. Only 2 touchdowns this season but for Jacksonville that is a lot, both of them coming in the last 2 weeks. The Bengals have not been the dominate team we thought they might be. They give up points and they give up yards.

Tight End:

This was a tough week for the TE position. Not too many players stuck out so we are going to have to go back in time to find that diamond in the rough.

Dwayne Allen, Indianapolis Colts- It’s funny that so many of these guys are still out there but none of them are available in my league. We covered this last week, Allen is a must start each week. Once again he found the end zone for his 6th TD in 8 games. He is going against a Giants team that will probably allow ample opportunities for this high power offense to score. He is ranked #7 overall and there is a considerable gap between #7 and #8. About 40% of the teams in your league are starting someone less than Allen, is it you?

Larry Donnell, New York Giants- You all know that I don’t believe in Donnell but that doesn’t mean he can’t have a good game once in a while. 7 catches for 90 yards is a great stat, too bad we don’t see it very often. He actually had almost 50 more yards last week then he did the week he scored 3 touchdowns and causing a waiver frenzy. Look, the Giants are going to have to score a lot if they want to beat the Colts and that means Eli will be throwing all over the place. Some of that is bound to get on Donnell.

Heath Miller, Pittsburgh Steelers- It felt like we were in a time machine on Sunday as we watched Miller catch 7 passes for 112 yards and touchdown. Not sure what to think about the Steelers offense but I know that Big Ben doesn’t mind throwing in Millers direction. He isn’t the Miller of old but he has proven there is some real value left. If you’re nostalgic and desperate it’s probably going to be Miller time anyway.

Between the Percy Harvin trade and injuries to some key people, this week’s waiver wire could be a an interesting one. Here are few of the guys am considering this week.

Quarterback:

Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins- Tannehill is quietly averaging just over 16pts per came which places him 13th among QB’s ahead of names like Cam Newton and Tom Brady. While I fully expect Newton and Brady to eventually finish the season near the top 10 it’s a testament to how good Tannehill can be. He has almost 800 yards and 6 TD’s over the last 3 weeks. His 21% ownership is up 8% so he is starting to show on the radar, you may want to grab him quick before it’s too late.

Kyle Orton, Buffalo Bills- Always a threat to throw for 300 yards Orton has a huge upside. Turnovers have been a bit of an issue which is why he is second on this list. He is averaging just over 15 points per game since taking the starting roll averaging almost 300 yards per game while scoring 5TD’s and 3INT’s. Injuries to both key running backs could be an issue or it could open the passing game wide open.

Alex Smith, Kansas City Chiefs- It’s been a couple weeks since Smith was in a relevant waiver wire conversation. Going into week 7 shaking off a tough pre-bye week performance in SF, Smith got back on track scoring 14 pts vs division rival San Diego Chargers. Over the last 5 weeks Smith has thrown 8 TD’s and only 1 Int. He has also rushed for 102 yards on 18 carries adding a few points on the back end. With games and STL, NYJ, and BUF coming up, there is definitely opportunity here.

Running Back:

Ronnie Hillman, Denver Broncos- I could have very easily copied and pasted last week’s paragraph here because nothing has changed except that he is still just sitting on the waiver wire. HE IS ONLY 22% OWNED! In his 2 weeks as a starter he has finished in the top 20. He plays for an offense whose captain is arguably the best scoring QB the game. There is no sane reason for him to still be available in your league. Pick him up now!

Denard Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars- Toby Gerhart was supposed to the man, but like Monte Ball the experts got it all wrong. The expectation was for Storm Johnson to take over the starting roll but Gerhart’s injury seem to open the door for Robinson instead. 127 yards on 22 carries and 1 Td. How do you ignore those stats? Week #8 vs Miami is going to be a tough one, starting him next week would carry some risk. You have to decide if it is risk you are willing to take.

Tre Mason, St. Loius Rams & Jerick McKinon, Minnesota Vikings- Both of these guys play for bad teams, both of these guys have starters that are unable to perform, both of these guys were supposed to move from #3 to #2 on the depth chart, and both of these guys have shown they won’t be held back. While people were looking to scoop up Cunningham and Asiata these guys were quietly out performing them on regular basis. It appears that both of these players are getting the majority of their teams carries. If you need to bye week fill in, these guys will do that nicely.

Wide Receivers:

Doug Baldwin, Seattle Seahawks- I will be the first one to say that I am not a fan of the Percy Harvin trade, I think that it hurts Seattle’s offense. However, it brings a spotlight to Doug Baldwin. With Golden Tate in Detroit and now Harvin to the Jets, Baldwin will get a shot to carry the receiver core. Baldwin has great chemistry with his QB and they can still run the ball. He showed an ability to put up WR1 stats in last week’s loss to STL. If you grab him now, it could be a steal.

Odell Beckham Jr, New York Giants- Since Cruz is out for the remainder of the season his targets need to go to someone. And while Randle moves to the #1 spot, Beckham will see his targets increase as well. Giants are a pass first offense who always seems to play from behind. Anyone who finds the endzone twice in one game should grab your attention.

Stevie Johnson, San Francisco 49ers- I have been waiting all season to put this guy on the list. I know that he is the #3 WR but he has talent and every week he continues to improve. He was a fantasy starter when he played for Buffalo and I think he has potential in San Francisco as well. He is on a bye so he won’t help you this week. WR are hard to judge so he is worth a serious look. If San Francisco’s defense continue to struggle the offense will have to throw to keep up.

Tight Ends:

Dwayne Allan, Indianapolis Colts- When it comes to this team’s offense you have to view it just like you would the Denver Broncos. There are plenty of points to go around and if you can score, luck will get you the ball. Allen is 7th in overall scoring even though he is still available in 68% of leagues. He is an week starter, if you have roster space pick him up!

Owen Daniels, Baltimore Ravens- So he never lived up to his former glory like I predicted, sorry about that. However when it some the very shallow TE pool, having the 11th highest scorer isn’t a bad thing. That makes him a starter in 12-team leagues. If you are looking for someone to fill in for a week, he is worth closer look.

Clay Harbor, Jacksonville Jaguars- I moved him down the list this week to make it look like a fresh pick. He didn’t find the endzoze this week so he only scored a measly 3pts. However he did catch 6 passes last week in short yardage situations which tells me that isn’t for gotten. I fully expect him to get some endzone work in this Sunday.

Quarterback:

Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins- Tannehill is quietly averaging just over 16pts per came which places him 13th among QB’s ahead of names like Cam Newton and Tom Brady. While I fully expect Newton and Brady to eventually finish the season near the top 10 it’s a testament to how good Tannehill can be. He has almost 800 yards and 6 TD’s over the last 3 weeks. His 21% ownership is up 8% so he is starting to show on the radar, you may want to grab him quick before it’s too late.

Kyle Orton, Buffalo Bills- Always a threat to throw for 300 yards Orton has a huge upside. Turnovers have been a bit of an issue which is why he is second on this list. He is averaging just over 15 points per game since taking the starting roll averaging almost 300 yards per game while scoring 5TD’s and 3INT’s. Injuries to both key running backs could be an issue or it could open the passing game wide open.

Alex Smith, Kansas City Chiefs- It’s been a couple weeks since Smith was in a relevant waiver wire conversation. Going into week 7 shaking off a tough pre-bye week performance in SF, Smith got back on track scoring 14 pts vs division rival San Diego Chargers. Over the last 5 weeks Smith has thrown 8 TD’s and only 1 Int. He has also rushed for 102 yards on 18 carries adding a few points on the back end. With games and STL, NYJ, and BUF coming up, there is definitely opportunity here.

Running Back:

Ronnie Hillman, Denver Broncos- I could have very easily copied and pasted last week’s paragraph here because nothing has changed except that he is still just sitting on the waiver wire. HE IS ONLY 22% OWNED! In his 2 weeks as a starter he has finished in the top 20. He plays for an offense whose captain is arguably the best scoring QB the game. There is no sane reason for him to still be available in your league. Pick him up now!

Denard Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars- Toby Gerhart was supposed to the man, but like Monte Ball the experts got it all wrong. The expectation was for Storm Johnson to take over the starting roll but Gerhart’s injury seem to open the door for Robinson instead. 127 yards on 22 carries and 1 Td. How do you ignore those stats? Week #8 vs Miami is going to be a tough one, starting him next week would carry some risk. You have to decide if it is risk you are willing to take.

Tre Mason, St. Loius Rams & Jerick McKinon, Minnesota Vikings- Both of these guys play for bad teams, both of these guys have starters that are unable to perform, both of these guys were supposed to move from #3 to #2 on the depth chart, and both of these guys have shown they won’t be held back. While people were looking to scoop up Cunningham and Asiata these guys were quietly out performing them on regular basis. It appears that both of these players are getting the majority of their teams carries. If you need to bye week fill in, these guys will do that nicely.

Wide Receivers:

Doug Baldwin, Seattle Seahawks- I will be the first one to say that I am not a fan of the Percy Harvin trade, I think that it hurts Seattle’s offense. However, it brings a spotlight to Doug Baldwin. With Golden Tate in Detroit and now Harvin to the Jets, Baldwin will get a shot to carry the receiver core. Baldwin has great chemistry with his QB and they can still run the ball. He showed an ability to put up WR1 stats in last week’s loss to STL. If you grab him now, it could be a steal.

Odell Beckham Jr, New York Giants- Since Cruz is out for the remainder of the season his targets need to go to someone. And while Randle moves to the #1 spot, Beckham will see his targets increase as well. Giants are a pass first offense who always seems to play from behind. Anyone who finds the endzone twice in one game should grab your attention.

Stevie Johnson, San Francisco 49ers- I have been waiting all season to put this guy on the list. I know that he is the #3 WR but he has talent and every week he continues to improve. He was a fantasy starter when he played for Buffalo and I think he has potential in San Francisco as well. He is on a bye so he won’t help you this week. WR are hard to judge so he is worth a serious look. If San Francisco’s defense continue to struggle the offense will have to throw to keep up.

Tight Ends:

Dwayne Allan, Indianapolis Colts- When it comes to this team’s offense you have to view it just like you would the Denver Broncos. There are plenty of points to go around and if you can score, luck will get you the ball. Allen is 7th in overall scoring even though he is still available in 68% of leagues. He is an week starter, if you have roster space pick him up!

Owen Daniels, Baltimore Ravens- So he never lived up to his former glory like I predicted, sorry about that. However when it some the very shallow TE pool, having the 11th highest scorer isn’t a bad thing. That makes him a starter in 12-team leagues. If you are looking for someone to fill in for a week, he is worth closer look.

Clay Harbor, Jacksonville Jaguars- I moved him down the list this week to make it look like a fresh pick. He didn’t find the endzoze this week so he only scored a measly 3pts. However he did catch 6 passes last week in short yardage situations which tells me that isn’t for gotten. I fully expect him to get some endzone work in this Sunday.

Starting running backs have popped up almost weekly on the waiver wire. This week is no different as there are several options to choose from. Unfortunately you are only likely to get one so who do you grab?

There is a new trend emerging this year in fantasy football. The streaming running back. It is starting to get to the point where you can stream running backs like you can defenses. It will be interesting to see how this plays into your drafts next year. Do players shift from taking RBs first to waiting and filling in spots with waiver wire hopes? It is an interesting predicament nonetheless.

Once again fantasy players are presented with several options at the running back position on the waiver wire this week. Fantasy players can literally pluck their starting RB right off of the wire and not miss a beat with bye weeks. But you are only going to get one shot at these RBs. Where is the value and which are fool’s gold?

Andre Williams, New York Giants – In my opinion I think that Williams is the best long-term investment you can make this week of all available starting RBs. Here is my case for Williams. Rashad Jennings is brittle. Whether he comes back in two weeks or not, there is a good chance he will miss time again. Williams is also the real deal. I hate when experts make a big deal out of a guy simply due to the opportunity. I want the guy with the talent who will use that opportunity and turn it into something special. I think that is Williams. His schedule is terrific as he plays the Eagles and Cowboys. Finally whether Jennings is back or not, I think Williams will have a solid role moving forward if he can put together a couple of productive weeks. Tom Coughlin loves a goalline back and I would not be surprised if Williams snags that job once Jennings returns.

Branden Oliver, San Diego Chargers – It is hard not to like what this kid did on Sunday. Not only was he wearing Darren Sproles old number, he looked just like Sproles running through that New York Jets defense. There is a chance that Oliver could find a regular role once Ryan Matthews returns in that Danny Woodhead spot as a pass-catching RB. Oliver will have great short-term value, better than Williams. I just worry about the Chargers having one more mouth to feed if Oliver does work himself into a regular role.

Ronnie Hillman, Denver Broncos – Hillman will be another hot add this week. I have read all kinds of timetables regarding Monte Ball’s return. The problem with Hillman is that he will be sharing time unlike Williams who will be the workhorse. I was also never impressed with Hillman and I have no reason to think he will do it now just because of the opportunity. Now Hillman could have some value if Ball misses several weeks but the latest reports indicate Ball could be back in a week which makes Hillman a one-week chance in my opinion.

Benny Cunningham, St. Louis Rams – Cunningham is a real interesting name as there was a lot of buzz about him coming out of the preseason. I almost drafted him with a late pick but the inconsistency with Rams’ RBs scared me off. Zac Stacy is down although it is expected that he will be back Monday night against the 49ers. There are injury concerns with Stacy and you may want to roll the dice on Cunningham. He’s a long shot but if Stacy reinjures his calf you could have yourself a gem in Cunningham.

It is win-or go-home for some of you frustrated fantasy football players as we are just weeks away from the playoffs. The waiver wire isn’t nearly as juicy as it was last week but there are still a few gambles and subs that are worth a look.

Running Backs

Andre Ellington, Arizona Cardinals – Ellington has flown under the radar for several reasons, most notably being the team he plays for. Savvy players either picked him up weeks ago or even drafted him with a late pick. Ellington had a big game against the Falcons on Sunday and should continue with big production in the weeks ahead. Ellington is on a bye week so you won’t see any immediate dividends.

Quarterbacks

Jason Campbell, Cleveland Browns – Get him while he is still playing. The over/under on Campbell getting hurt is probably about 2 games so I would be careful who you drop to get him. Campbell got hot in Oakland a few times before injuries sent him to the bench. He had great numbers against the best defense in football over the weekend. If you own Brady or Eli Manning or another under-producing QB you are probably best served to give Campbell a shot at this point.

Christian Ponder, Minnesota Vikings – Okay I know, Ponder sucks but he may not suck so bad in fantasy football this weekend. If you have a QB on bye or someone like Bradford that got hurt, Ponder could be a decent one-week option. Ponder has a great matchup against those Dallas Cowboys who are ranked dead last against fantasy QBs in standard scoring leagues. You look back at the Cleveland game and know he can put up the numbers. Now would I start him? No, but if I was desperate and needed a QB for this week only I may actually give it a shot.

Wide Receivers

Kenny Stills, New Orleans Saints – I am at the point where I am going to put in a claim for Stills and drop Marques Colston. Stills has some nice numbers but his lack of targets do scare me a bit. The upside here is that Stills should get opportunities every week in this high-powered offense. I certainly don’t expect the kind of numbers he put up against the Bills but I think he can be a nice sub if you have a WR 2 or WR 3 on a bye week. The inconsistency prevents me from recommending him for anything more.

Marvin Jones, Cincinnati Bengals – I am a little dubious of any WRs that rely on Andy Dalton to throw them ball weekly and that includes AJ Green. Yet Jones had an outstanding game against the Jets catching 4 TDs…yes 4! I would be amazed to see that again this season but Jones could be a sneaky play as defenses double Green and leave Jones with single coverage. He has a TD in each of his last three games so something is definitely brewing here and it’s more than just a fluke.

Defense

Oakland Raiders, Defense – I hate when the fantasy experts tell you not to pay attention to defenses. Do you like being the guy who loses by a few points to a guy who had a D that scored double digits? I don’t. The Raiders are getting hot and are becoming a consistent fantasy defense option. The matchup against the Eagles alone is worth a roll of the dice here. The Eagles are 27th against defenses in standard scoring leagues.

It is crunch time and if you are struggling, this could be your make it or break it week in fantasy football. Bye weeks aren’t going to help but lucky for you there are actually some decent plug-ins you can pick up on the waiver wire due to some unfortunate injuries, especially at running back.

Quarterbacks

Jake Locker, Tennessee Titans - I know Locker has a bye week so you can’t use him if you need immediate help. But he lit up the 49ers on Sunday and he has some phenomenal matchups on the agenda when he returns from the bye. He’ll have the Rams and the Jaguars and who wouldn’t want a QB that gets them both at this point in the season? If you are struggling at QB and can wait a week, Locker is worth the early investment.

Case Keenum, Houston Texans - Keenum came in for the injured Matt Schaub and put up respectable numbers. 271 yards and a TD isn’t bad for a backup coming in to start. The Texans are entering a bye week and it is entirely feasible that Schaub starts when they return. Yet I think Keenum has Gary Kubiak thinking and whether Schaub comes back as the starter or not, his leash could be very short.

Tight Ends

Jordan Reed, Washington Redskins – Reed came out of nowhere last week in a shootout against the Bears with 134 yards and a TD. Those are Jimmy Graham numbers right there. Is he going to put up those numbers every week? I can’t imagine he does. However, he is now a legitimate option in a high-potential offense. I am not big on anointing guys as studs after one big week but he is certainly worth a grab.

Running Backs

Roy Helu Jr., Washington Redskins – Helu has been awesome thus far when given significant playing time for the Redskins. Morris is having a nice year but it is not the kind of a year that should keep someone like Helu away from his touches. Are you really surprised there is a running back controversy on a Mike Shanahan team? This is why I stayed away from Morris at my draft. At this point you have to add him and see what happens as the season progresses.

Chris Iovry, New York Jets - He is out there on a lot of wires and is certainly worth the pickup. This Jets backfield is reminding me of the Redskins backfield with all of the inconsistency at running back. It would appear although it is not confirmed that Bilal Powell suffered some kind of injury. Goodson is out for the year. That leaves Ivory as the main bell-cow. I wouldn’t get too excited over what he did to a depleted Patriots defense but there is definitely value moving forward.

Mike James, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - I am not a big fan of using my wire pick on someone just because he is a starter. James is going to get some time in Tampa Bay due to an injury to Doug Martin. The only reason I recommend James is because if you are desperate and need a starting back, he is out there and has the job for the rest of the season. The offensive line here is not very good and the offense is very inconsistent. Stranger things have happened (look at Brandon Jacobs two weeks ago) so if you need a spot at RB, James is worth a gamble. If you don’t I’d pass.

Wide Receivers

Darrius Heyward-Bey, Indianapolis Colts – It seems like one way or another DHB winds up on my waiver wire list every year. This year he is in Indianapolis and could be the big beneficiary of an injury to Reggie Wayne. In this offense DHB has a tremendous opportunity to shine. If you need some help at WR he could be the answer to your WR woes.

This week’s fantasy football waiver wire may be one of the most critical of all for you. If you are struggling with a weak bench, you have no choice but to look to the wire for help. Unfortunately you probably won’t find any sure-things this week.

Quarterbacks

There are no pickups I could recommend with confidence. Josh Freeman is out there but you’d have to be crazy to put him in your lineup at this point.

Wide Receivers

Jarrett Boykin, Green Bay Packers - Boykin may wind up seeing a lot of balls thrown his way by default. Randall Cobb and James Jones both left Sunday’s game with injuries. Their exits left Boykin and Jordy Nelson as the only receiving options. I like those options. Teams will likely start giving Nelson a lot of attention opening up some big opportunities for Boykin. I am real intrigued moving forward.

Randall Cobb, Green Bay Packers - Hear me out on this one. Cobb is hurt and will miss time. There is a chance that someone in your league will drop him up out of desperation. You could theoretically pick him up, stash him, and unleash him in your playoffs. Obviously he won’t be on a lot of wires but I have seen (and grabbed) better in past seasons thanks to desperate owners.

Percy Harvin, Seattle Seahawks - I have written about Harvin before but now is the time to get him. Harvin’s return date is still TBD but numerous reports say that Harvin could be back soon. After seeing the abysmal options at wide receiver on Sunday I can almost guarantee you that Pete Carroll will do whatever he can to get Harvin back on the field sooner than later. It’s hard to say what kind of value he’ll actually have starting the season late on a new team, in a new system, with a new QB but the upside could be huge.

Running Backs

Brandon Jacobs, New York Giants - I cringe even writing this but the fact is that he is a starting running back on a team that can move the ball up and down the field. I wouldn’t expect the kind of numbers he put up against Chicago every week. However, the Giants still have a pretty decent running game. Keep in mind that Andre Brown could return as early as Week 10 which would potentially kill Jacobs’ goal-line value. But if you need a back in the meantime, you could do much worse.

Joseph Randle, Dallas Cowboys - DeMarco Murray suffered his annual injury on Sunday night against the Redskins leaving Randle as the primary ball carrier for this team. Randle did little to impress but what I like here is his offense. The running game was huge Sunday night and Randle should get a lot of opportunities. The Cowboys will move the ball and I’d be shocked if Randle didn’t get a goal-line carry or two per game while Murray is out.

Andre Ellington, Arizona Cardinals - Ellington put up really nice numbers against one of the best defenses in the NFL against the run. Ellington continues to produce and could be a sneaky play going forward. Quite frankly of all running backs here I like Ellington’s upside the most going forward towards the post-season.

Mikelle LeShoure, Detroit Lions - What? Why would you grab LeShoure? I’ll tell you why. Joqouie Bell is hurt and the starting back for the Detroit Lions is one of the most brittle players in all of football. On top of that, LeShoure did well on goal-line carries last year so if the Lions decide to replace Bush with LeShoure at the goal-line, he could see some major value going forward. Of course his value is minimal if Bell makes a quick return.

Tight Ends

Ben Watson, New England Patriots - Jimmy Graham was in and out of Sunday’s game with an injury and right now his status is unknown going forward. The tight end plays a big part in this offense and Watson is one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the game. Check out his numbers in Cleveland a few years ago when he was featured and you’ll salivate about what he could do in this offense without Jimmy Graham. Graham owners especially should take a run at Watson until further word comes out on Graham’s injury status.

Joseph Fauria, Detroit Lions - I would say to handle with care when it comes to Fauria. Fauria had 3 TDs but he only had 3 catches. Those sound a lot like Kyle Rudolph’s stats. The upside here is that maybe Stafford gained some confidence in Fauria and will start looking at him more often in the red zone. The downside here is that maybe he only catches one or two balls a game and none are in the end zone. Personally, I would look elsewhere but if you are in a deep league and have an injury at the position, I’d take a shot.

Dallas Clark, Baltimore Ravens - Dallas Clark finally had the game his owners who drafted him were waiting for. The problem is that most of you probably dropped him about two weeks ago. He is certainly out there. Is this a case of a guy just having a random good day or a guy who is finally familiar with his offense and has the quarterback’s confidence? All I know is that the Ravens desperately need a jolt at offense and maybe Clark is the guy to provide that.

We are already reaching the halfway point for some of you in the fantasy football regular season. It is either time to panic or boost your bench for the stretch run. While there aren’t any diamonds in the ruff on the waiver wire this week, there are a few guys that you may be able to plug and play during your bye weeks to sustain your momentum or turn it around.

Quarterbacks

Chad Henne, Jacksonville Jaguars - Henne will be taking over duties for Blaine Gabbert and that is good news for fantasy owners looking for a bye week QB. Henne has a brutal matchup against the Denver Broncos this week which in terms of fantasy is good news for garbage time. At some point this game will be out of hand and the Jags will rack up some garbage points

Nick Foles, Philadelphia Eagles - Who wouldn’t want a QB in this offense? Vick is out at least for a week if not more. Foles is nowhere near the scrambler Vick is but all he needs is a couple TDs to make it work. He had 197 yards and 2 TDs in relief work (although it was against the Giants). He has a decent matchup against Tampa Bay this week and a great one against Dallas if Vick remains on the sidelines in Week 7.
Running Backs

Danny Woodhead, San Diego Chargers - I will admit that I was a little late to this party. My wishful bias as a Ryan Matthews owner refused to allow me to see the light of Woodhead. Woodhead has become a bigger part of the offense than any other Chargers running back. He now has back to back double digit points and has a sweet matchup in two weeks with the Jaguars. If he is still around I’d hop on the bandwagon and grab him.

Zac Stacy, St. Louis Rams - I am not overly excited about Zac Stacy but he is a starting running back in an offense that would like to run the ball. If you are like me and your run with Bilal Powell is over, Stacy makes a perfect pickup for your drop. Stacy isn’t a guy you’d use every week but you may play a matchup here and there. More importantly he gives you depth. He had an impressive game this week but it was the Jaguars. Time will tell if he is the real deal but if you wait, you may miss out.

Marcel Reese, Oakland Raiders - Reese is the next man up in Oakland. With McFadden and Jennings hurt, Reese could be the bell cow next week. Keep in mind that Reese is a guy that could have no value moving forward but if you have a back on bye this week, you could do much worse. If you do pick him up watch the injury report this weekend because if McFadden does play you aren’t playing Reese.

Wide Receivers

Brandon Bolden, New England Patriots - I am not a huge fan of owning any Patriots running backs but if you were going to own any, Bolden would be your guy for now. The upside here is that Gronk is expected back at any time. Defenses are bound to play the pass and give up more runs once he returns to the lineup. It’s obvious that the Pats have no interest in giving Blount the load with Bolden playing 40 snaps to Blount’s 22 on Sunday. Bolden will be that guy and could get more playing time in shootouts (pass-heavy games) than Ridley going forward.

Justin Blackmon, Jacksonville Jaguars - Plenty of savvy owners already drafted Blackmon but I was surprised to see how available he is throughout the ESPN leagues. Anyone who watched this kid in college knows how talented he is. On another team the kid would have the ability to be Dez Bryant. Yet even in Jacksonville he can shine. He had a nice game this last week but it was the Rams so please keep that in mind. I see him as more a matchup guy but if you can get him he’s a great play during some critical bye weeks. The Jags are going to need to score a ton of points to keep up with the Broncos Sunday. Blackmon could be a hot play, especially in garbage time in Week 6.

Keenan Allen, San Diego Chargers - Allen isn’t what I’d call a sexy name but he is a guy that is a part of a high-powered offense. The Chargers defense stinks and they will always need to throw to stay in games. Rivers is back to Pro Bowl form and now that Eddie Royal is getting attention, Allen is getting more opportunities. He has had two great weeks in a row and continues to play in two-wide receiver sets. He certainly isn’t someone I’d play every week over the usual starters but as a bye week substitute he is pretty good.

Tight Ends

Garrett Graham, Houston Texans - Graham immediately pops up on the wire now that Owen Daniels will be sidelined for 4-6 weeks. Schaub likes to throw to tight ends (in between throwing to DBs) which makes Graham an intriguing pickup. While the Rams matchup sounds intriguing the Rams defense has actually played pretty well against tight ends. I’d grab him but look for other options this week if you have them.

Week 5 on the fantasy football waiver wire isn’t what I’d call exciting. You have a couple of usual suspects when it comes to the waiver wire but you never know. A roll of the dice on some of these names could pay off in big dividends if you are looking for bye week relief.

Quarterbacks

Matt Cassel, Minnesota Vikings – Like Nate Washington I feel like I bit by Cassel fairly often. The potential has always been there but how often does he really stay on my team? Maybe it was the system in Kansas City because he looked great against Pittsburgh on Sunday. The Vikings have a bye week and while the team says Ponder will get his job back, I’ll believe it when I see it.

Wide Receivers

Nate Washington, Tennessee Titans – I have always liked Washington and I don’t think a season has passed in the last several years where he hasn’t been on one of my benches. Washington now has back to back weeks of over 100 yards receiving with two different quarterbacks. I think Washington’s chances are better to succeed with Kenny Britt off the field and there are reports that Britt is on the block. I’ll probably take another shot on him. He’s inconsistent but he has a ton of upside if you are looking for a bye week gamble.

Jerome Simpson, Minnesota Vikings – While everyone in your league will be clamoring for Greg Jennings, you can be the smart one and grab the better Vikings wide receiver. Simpson has now had two games of over 100 yards. He hasn’t scored a TD but with defenses keying in on A.P. you’d expect him to get some chances. What I really like him is that he has had 100 or more with both Christian Ponder and Matt Cassel so the QB really doesn’t make a big difference.

Robert Woods, Buffalo Bills – Savvy players have probably already scooped up this Bill but he may be available. He is most valuable in my opinion in dynasty leagues. I don’t like the consistency just yet but there is a good chance that he and Manuel will be a deadly combination in upcoming seasons. Once again I would make the move more if I were in a dynasty league but he may be worth a shot regardless.

Running Backs

Rashad Jennings, Oakland Raiders – I have always found Jennings to be underwhelming, specifically when he had his opportunities in Jacksonville but he may be a sneaky pickup for a week. Jennings is the only healthy running back in Oakland which means he’d get a lion’s share of the load. Jennings would probably be more valuable to you if you are in a PPR league but if you need a back for a bye week, he may be worth a shot.

Roy Helu, Washington Redskins – If you are a gambling fantasy player than this is your waiver wire pick. Helu came in for an injured Alfred Morris and exploded for 84 total yards and a score. Morris has a rib injury and remains to be seen how severe it is. Early word is that it isn’t that bad but you never know with Mike Shanahan. His teams haven’t always been truthful when it comes to reporting injuries. If you want to take a gamble, grab Helu, and watch the injury report next week. I would bank on Morris returning but if you have the room Helu can be a nice wait-and-see on your bench.